Lady Diana and the Lady Dior: Loved through the decades

The year is 1995, and the First Lady of France is with Lady Diana at the opening of the Paul Cézanne retrospective at the Grand Palais in Paris. Moments later, the First Lady presents Lady Diana with a gift that will soon change the course of fashion history. With the exclusive, unlaunched Dior bag in Diana's possession, the Chouchou – as the iconic bag was known then – was en route to becoming a House icon.

Later that year, as Lady Diana exited the plane in Buenos Aires on an official trip to Argentina with the bag hanging from her arm, the world trademarked it hers. Over and over again, the bag – in multiple colors as per her request – would be seen adorned by the princess throughout her social calendar. From an official visit to Liverpool in 1995 to the 1996 Met Gala, the bag was soon christened in her name, and the Lady Dior was born.

The modern, elegant curves made the Lady Dior a constant companion for the princess, and for urbanite women around the world. Till this day, the Princess’ favourite lambskin bag still adorns the topstitch with the iconic Cannage motif. The Lady Dior is a hallmark of all Dior leather goods, and a definite symbol of continuous growth in fashion.

Twenty-six years later, the perennial bag has been reinterpreted with charms, a wide shoulder strap and a more supple design — but it's mythos remains.

For more on the Lady Dior, visit the exclusive Lady Dior Pop-Up at ION Orchard's Level 1 Atrium from September 1 to October 3.